The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may decrease or disappear over time, but in some cases they never go away. Peripheral nerves have a great healing capacity. Although it may take months, a recovery can occur. However, in some situations, the symptoms of neuropathy may decrease but not go away completely.
For example, nerve damage caused by radiation often does not recover well. Neuropathy caused by chemotherapy is also difficult to cure, and recovery can take from 18 months to 5 years or more. During recovery from platinum-induced neuropathy, patients may suffer from increased symptoms. A tree that has been cut down and cut into wood cannot become a living tree again.
Scrambled eggs can never be raw. Neuropathic pain is often described as a shooting or burning pain. It can go away on its own, but it is often chronic. Sometimes it is relentless and serious, and sometimes it comes and goes.
It is often the result of damage to the nerves or a malfunctioning nervous system. The impact of nerve damage is a change in nerve function both at the site of injury and in the areas around it. Whether or not to reverse neuropathy depends on the cause of nerve damage. In some cases, the pain may disappear completely.
In others, nerve damage may be permanent. Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for Dana-Farber patients% 26 families Learn more Please note that some translations using Google Translate may not be accurately rendered and downloaded documents may not be translatable. Dana-Farber assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies that may result from the use of this third-party tool, which is for the translation of the website and not for clinical interactions. You can request a live medical interpreter to discuss your care.
The risk of neuropathy does not depend on the diagnosis, but on the type of treatment used to treat cancer. Before treatment, it is important that all patients talk to their oncologists about any diseases or conditions they may have. In addition to these therapies, low-impact exercises such as swimming and cycling, as well as acupuncture, relaxation techniques, meditation, and guided imaging exercises can help with the side effects of neuropathy. Remember, there are many more options than just taking a pain reliever.
For neuropathy in the hands, patients can try finger tapping (tapping each finger with the thumb, one at a time) or turning their fingers (bending their fingers, one at a time, into a fist). Learn more about exercises to help neuropathy Learn more about healthy eating during cancer treatment B-complex vitamins, folic acid, vitamin E, D and some fish oils are the most common, but you shouldn't start any supplements without first consulting your cancer team, because many contraindicated during treatment. Magnesium potassium and tonic water (with quinine) can also help specifically with cramps. The good news for people living with neuropathy is that it is sometimes reversible.
Simply by addressing contributing causes, such as underlying infections, exposure to toxins, or vitamin and hormone deficiencies, the symptoms of neuropathy often resolve on their own.
